Maternity garment



March 24, 1959 c GEIMER 2,878,812

' MATERNITY GARMENT Filed Nov. 5, 1956 INVENTOR.

COR/VfA/UIS u. Gi/M 5/? United MATERNITY GARMENT Cornelius John Geimer, Burr Oak, Mich., assiguor to Freeman Manufacturing Company, Sturgis, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application November 5, 1956, Serial No. 620,426

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-542) The present invention relates to improvements in a maternity garment or girdle of the type illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 549,333, filed November 28, 1955.

It is an object of the invention to provide a maternity garment of this sort which provides a different type of abdomen support from that of my copending application, in that the lower abdomen zone of the wearer is firmly sustained by a front portion of a hip encircling member of a known, close mesh elastic fabric, this lower abdomen portion having an integral, upwardly tapered extension of like elasticity which continues the abdomen support in the upper central abdomen zone.

Another object is to provide a maternity garment in accordance with the preceding paragraph, in which the central, upper abdomen extension is bordered on either side by panel inserts of a soft shirred netting which is longitudinally or vertically and laterally or horizontally stretchable, as is the material of the hip encircling mem' ber, yet of substantially greater yieldability. There is thus provided a garment in which the abdomen is properly supported in the vertical sense, yet in which a desiredly yieldable side support is present to accommodate without discomfort the expansion of the abdomen as the pregnancy proceeds.

A still further object is to provide a garment of the foregoing character in which the hip and lower abdomen encircling member is continuous and unseamed throughout the area thereof, thus affording proper hip and thigh control in combination with the improved abdomen supporting features mentioned above. A basic member as described, having uniform characteristic throughout as to lateral and longitudinal stretchability, coupled with panel inserts of a different, lightweight elastic fabric is one which affords maximum comfort and proper figure control for the wearer. In addition, it is a garment which may be manufactured at low cost, indeed.

Other objects and features of the invention will be come apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the inven tion, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved maternity girdle as worn;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, showing the character and relationship of the primary, hip encircling and the upper abdomen panels of the garment; and

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the garment as it is worn.

The improved garment consists, in essence, of but three different panels, each being longitudinally and laterally stretchable. These include a main or primary hip encircling panel of a relatively close mesh elastic webbing of nylon, for example, and two upper front abdomen 2,878,812 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 2 panels 11 arranged in laterally spaced relation to one another. The panels 11 are of a shirred net fabric, longitudinally and laterally stretchable and of substantially greater yieldability than the main panel 10.

The latter is continuous throughout in its area, being entirely seamless. In addition to the rear and hip zone or area 12 thereof, the panel member 10 has a lower front abdomen zone or area 13 which presents an upwardly projecting front extension 14 to the upper abdomen zone of the wearer, the extension 14 tapering upwardly, as shown.

The shirred net panels 11 are seamed at 15 into the main or primary panel 10, as inserts which are vertically elongated and downwardly rounded. Upper and lower waist encircling and thigh encircling bands 15, 16, re-

spectively, are seamed continuously about the upper and lower margins of the composite garment unit constituted by the members it) and 11, in an entirely conventional manner. The lower band 16 is provided with hose clasps 17 of the usual sort.

- It is seen that the garment affords relatively firm hip and thigh control, as well as a supporting action of like character across the lower abdomen zone 13. This type of support is continued upwardly into the upper abdomen zone. The shirred net areas afford the desired yieldability to accommodate with comfort to the wearer the progressive expansion of the abdomen in the pregnancy.

The article is inexpensively manufactured of available materials, and is an extremely comfortable one, beneficial in its use in accordance with modern thinking in respect to maternity garments.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A maternity garment comprising a panel unit of longitudinally and laterally elastic fabric adapted to encircle the hips and extend across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer, said unit having an upwardly tapered extension at the lower abdomen portion thereof affording a support of like yieldability for the upper abdomen zone of the wearer, and laterally spaced upper abdomen supporting panels scanned in said unit on either side of said extension and forwardly of the hip encircling portion of said member, said panels being fabricated of a longitudinally and laterally elastic material having substantially greater yieldability than said lower abdomen portion.

2. A maternity garment comprising a continuous member of longitudinally and laterally elastic fabric free of seaming within the area thereof and adapted to encircle the hips and extend across the lower abdomen zone of the wearer, a central, integral and upwardly tapered extension of said lower abdomen portion affording a support of like yieldability for the upper abdomen zone, and upper panels seamed in said member on either side of said extension and forwardly of the hip encircling portion of said member, said panels being fabricated of a longitudinally and laterally elastic material having substantially greater yieldability than said lower abdomen portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,375 Stephens Mar. 14, 1944 2,462,195 Jacobson Feb. 22, 1949 2,606,322 Vraciu Aug. 12, 1952 2,719,974 Blatt Oct. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 36,307 France Feb. 3, 1930 

